Loughner pleads not guilty

Man charged with trying to kill congresswoman

Published 12:11 am, Tuesday, January 25, 2011

PHOENIX -- The man accused of carrying out a mass shooting in Tucson pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he tried to kill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides.

The plea by Jared Lee Loughner marked his second court appearance on accusations he shot the congresswoman and 18 others at Giffords' meet-and-greet event Jan. 8 outside a grocery store in Tucson.

Loughner, 22, faces federal charges of trying to assassinate Giffords and attempting to murder two of her aides. He will later face state charges dealing with other victims.

At least eight U.S. marshals were present at the hearing in the Phoenix courthouse, where Loughner entered Monday afternoon smiling and wearing an orange prison suit and glasses. His hair, shaved in the mug shot that's become an enduring image of the tragedy, has grown out slightly.

Investigators have said Loughner was mentally disturbed and acting increasingly erratic in the weeks leading up to the shooting. If his attorney uses mental competency questions as a defense and is successful, Loughner could be sent to a mental health facility instead of being sentenced to prison or death.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns of San Diego asked Loughner attorney Judy Clarke whether there was any question about her client's ability to understand the case against him.

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"We are not raising any issues at this time," Clarke said.

The Houston hospital treating Giffords gave no update Monday, and spokesman James Campbell said the next update would come when they are ready to move Giffords to the rehab hospital.

The judge did not rule on prosecutors' request to move the federal case back to Tucson so that victims and witnesses do not have to make the trip to Phoenix to attend court hearings. The case was moved because one of those killed, Roll, was a federal judge.